Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory

• The SLT forms a bridge between traditional behaviourism and the cognitive approach

• It is concerned with human behaviour

• Sees people as active manipulators of their environment

• Believed that our behaviour is the result of an observation of role models

2 Types of role models

• Live

  • Present in our environment

• Symbolic

  • Present in the media

• Models provide patterns of behaviour that can be rapidly learnt through imitation

Key determinants of whether a behaviour is imitated

• Characteristics of the model

• Our perceived ability to replicate the behaviour

• Consequences

Identification

• Refers to the extent to which an individual relates to a model and feels that he/she is similar to that person

  • Must feel that they’re similar enough to them that they would be likely to experience the same outcomes

• Shutts et al = children are more likely to identify and learn from a model that is

  • Same sex

Vicarious reinforcement

• When we watch others get rewarded/punished for behaviour. As a result people learn about the likely consequences of an action (when it is appropriate and when it is not)

The role of meditational processes

• Meditational processes are mental factors which mediate in the learning process and determine…